States gird for new Medicaid ‘medically frail’ rule

State Medicaid programs are bracing for potential coverage losses among the sickest and most disabled beneficiaries as the Trump administration tightens the definition of "medically frail" eligibility. This change could strip many individuals of their Medicaid exemptions from new work requirements introduced under last year’s tax and spending law. The shift has raised alarms among state agencies, who fear it could leave vulnerable populations without crucial health coverage. The move underscores the ongoing tension between federal policy changes and state-level healthcare needs.